The New Year

It's resolution time, or at least reflection time. I'm not really so into resolutions - they seem to spawn anger in me (I fail, then blame someone else for my lack of success, and get angry). And I'm usually very much into reflection, but even that lately doesn't really float my boat. (I end up reflecting on the way I wish that things were, and blame someone else that my life isn't the way I wish it was, and get angry).

But I have noticed lately that some things in life just aren't working like they should. And there is, in every case, an easy solution.

I'm tired and crabby, I feel overwhelmed at all that I need to do and get nothing done. The solution I would like is to do less - just quit all these pesky duties like feeding my family and training up my children. The better, less convenient solution comes with the recognition my body needs exercise. It's too cold outside for that to be a nice walk, but I can tell that my body is screaming for it. So I'm starting to stretch and do a few sit-ups every morning. Every little bit helps, right?

I always fail at my read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year plan. And when I do read regularly, it seems to go in one ear and out the other -- ten minutes later, I have no idea what I read. The solution is to take is slower -- instead of the Bible in a year, just a chapter a day, and force myself to pay attention and write about it. That keeps me accountable to a greater measure.

Third, I've noticed that I'm ungrateful. God provides all these wonderful things for us, and I feel whiny and discontent. This doesn't please God, and it doesn't make for a happy home-life. The answer is kind of silly, but I think it'll work. I'm hoping to, for this entire year, keep a tally of the things God gives us free. Already, in the first four days of the year, I'm blown away.

Finally, I've noticed that I'm more centered, calmer, kinder and generally more sane when I take the time to write here. After a year of barely, if ever, writing, I'm hoping to be back. If you're unfortunate enough to read me here, then, well, you'll have more to put up with. (It probably won't be every day or anything). I'll be writing just to chronicle life and my thoughts, not putting tons of time into planning and editing posts like I once did. I don't have that kind of time or energy. I'm okay with that.

Welcome to the New Year of Our LORD!

God's provision, January 4

Today we received:

1 whole chicken
1 lb. package of chicken bratwurst
1 lb. pound beef
1 can orange juice
an entire case of bananas (what is that, 20 lbs or so? I feel a bunch of banana bread coming on)
a bag of Honey-nut Cheerios
a bag of strawberry flavored marshmallows
a bottle of gatorade
a box of macaroni and cheese (Kraft)
4 packs of strawberry flavored gummi fruit snacks
a can of hominy
a loaf of bread
two blueberry muffins

I had especially prayed for some chicken. It's been a while since we've had chicken and it really sounded good. Thanks God!

Oh, and banana bread for Sunday at church!

God's provision, 1-3-2009

Gifts from God for today:

$20 gas money
160 diapers (yeah!)
snow pants, in the size I need for Matt right now
2 pairs of jeans, overalls and sweat pants in my size!
An Elmo costume (seriously? My kids will think this is SOOO cool!)
a tie
five hats
two wash cloths
a pair of slippers
a set of sheets, that I originally thought I'd cut up and make an apron for Bennet from, but now I'm thinking that may actually fit our bed.
60+ shirts
seven jackets
26 pairs of pants
seven pairs of shorts
and a few sets of pajamas

What's even better is that these clothes are for BOYS! My girls get handed down clothes all the time, but it's pretty rare to get boy hand-me-downs, and these are mostly in really excellent shape too! Thank you Lord!

The providence of God

Ive been thinking for a while now that it would be nice to keep some sort of a tally on the material things that God provides for us - without the use of money (i.e. at least somewhat free). So here is a start:

Yesterday, January 2, we received:
4 and a half gallons milk
6 yogurts
1 tomato
1 green pepper
1 doz eggs
2 - half pound blocks of cheese
broccoli
lettuce
cole slaw
4 lbs or so apples
half gallon chocolate milk
5 lbs red potatoes
2 - 64 oz juice
about 12 loaves of bread
2 pounds brown rice
2 boxes cereal

These all for just the price of the gas to go get them (a trip into town that we were making anyway, so it was a matter of a few blocks out of the way).

Now, should I just keep updating this post, or post every time God gives us something?

Thanks, God, for all the food yesterday!

Narrating Scripture

There's a common saying in Charlotte Mason circles that goes something like this:

"That which is not narrated is not remembered"

Narration is, in essence, summary of a text. When we read a story to a child as part of a lesson (in history, for example), they are required to pay close attention. The stories are short to allow this to take place. Afterwards, they repeat back as much as they can remember from the reading.

We've been doing this with our school-age kids for several months now, and I can verify that requiring a child to narrate after a story really does insure that they remember it. Not narrating doesn't guarantee that they don't remember, but not paying attention does. And if you're going to have to narrate after a story, well, you pay attention.

I've been having troubles lately with paying attention while I read my Bible. I always seem to be interrupted at least a dozen times, even if it only takes a few minutes. And if I'm not interrupted physically, I don't concentrate well.

So I decided that I needed to take scripture reading in small chunks, and narrate every single time I read.

Hence these updates recently. I read it once, paying careful attention because I know I have to write afterwards everything that I remember. It's definitely improved my reading and remembering already.

No, at this pace I won't get through the Bible in a year. I didn't last year either. But perhaps I'll retain a larger portion of what I read.

So that's the goal for here and now. Get in the habit of reading just one chapter a day. Write every day what I remember from the reading, so that I develop the habit of actually paying attention while I read. And grow from there.

In addition (because I can't really let anything just stay simple), I'm making a point to notice what God says about Himself in the Bible. What is His character?

These will be chronicled on Seeing God. Like I need another blog, I know. I so rarely write to this one.... (I have so many things started to post, I just need to actually do it).

You don't have to read it. It won't be especially interesting or anything. I'm just doing it to keep myself accountable.

In Her Footsteps

When I was little, I dreaded certain things about Christmas. One of them was opening gifts.

Now don't get me wrong, I liked getting gifts, of course! But there was always something other the tree that was either gross, gaudy, or somehow embarrassing. And I found it rather uncomfortable to be greeted with such a present and try to feel (and therefore act) grateful.

I distinctly remember the year my mother gave me bras for Christmas. I needed them, and new ones were insanely expensive. So she had gone to the cheapest local thrift store (it was our favorite), and gotten me three or four wearable bras.

Now, to my probably 12 or 13 year old mind, it was bad enough needing bras, but to get used, ugly bras from the thrift store was a bit too much for me to handle, and I was downright embarrassed.

I've gotten over it.

This year, my little girls need tights. They're insanely expensive at Wally world -- $4 a pair! At only 2 pairs each, that's already $16 dollars. I can't do that! (Now you know how cheap I am when it comes to gifts....)

So I found myself today, at the thrift store. The very same one we loved as a kid. It's still the cheapest in town. And you know what? They had tights. Lots of them. They weren't perfect, nor new, but they don't have runs or snags. I got each girl six pair, and spent less than $2 on all of them combined. I'm thrilled with my purchase.

I'd like to think that I've successfully brainwashed the girls enough that they'll love their new tights.

But if not, they'll eventually get over the embarrassment.

If you give a Mom a muffin....

If you give a mom a muffin,
She'll want a cup of coffee to go with it.
She'll pour herself some.
Her three-year-old will spill the coffee.
She'll wipe it up.
Wiping the floor, she'll find dirty socks.
She'll remember she has to do laundry.
When she puts the laundry in the washer,
She'll trip over boots and bump into the freezer.
Bumping into the freezer will remind her
she has to plan for supper.
She will get out a pound of hamburger.
She'll look for her cookbook
("101 Things To Do With a Pound of Hamburger").
The cookbook is setting under a pile of mail.
She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow.
She will look for her checkbook.
The check book is in her purse
that is being dumped out by her two-year-old.
She'll smell something funny.
She'll change the two-year-old's diaper.
While she is changing the diaper, the phone will ring.
Her five-year-old will answer and hang up.
She'll remember she wants to phone a friend for coffee.
Thinking of coffee will remind her
that she was going to have a cup.
And chances are... If she has a cup of coffee,
Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

-author unknown (If you know the author, please let me know, so that I can give due credit!)